scholarly journals Analysis on root system morphology using a root length density model. I. The model.

1988 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 749-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya SUGA ◽  
Keisuke NEMOTO ◽  
Jun ABE ◽  
Shigenori MORITA
2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Searles ◽  
Diego A. Saravia ◽  
M. Cecilia Rousseaux

Several studies have evaluated many above-ground aspects of olive production, but essential root system characteristics have been little examined. The objective of our study was to evaluate root length density (RLD) and root distribution relative to soil water content in three commercial orchards (north-west Argentina). Depending on the orchard, the different drip emitter arrangements included either: (1) emitters spaced continuously at 1-m intervals along the drip line (CE-4; 4 emitters per tree); (2) 4 emitters per tree spaced at 1-m intervals, but with a space of 2 m between emitters of neighbouring trees (E-4); or (3) 2 emitters per tree with 4 m between emitters of neighbouring trees (E-2). All of the orchards included either var. Manzanilla fina or Manzanilla reina trees (5–8 years old) growing in sandy soils, although the specific characteristics of each orchard differed. Root length density values (2.5–3.5 cm/cm3) in the upper soil depth (0–0.5 m) were fairly uniform along the drip line in the continuous emitter (CE-4) orchard. In contrast, roots were more concentrated in the E-4 and E-2 orchards, in some cases with maximum RLD values of up to 7 cm/cm3. Approximately 70% of the root system was located in the upper 0.5 m of soil depth, and most of the roots were within 0.5 m of the drip line. For each of the three orchards, significant linear relationships between soil water content and RLD were detected based on 42 sampling positions that included various distances from the trunk and soil depths. Values of RLD averaged over the entire rooting zone and total tree root length per leaf area for the three orchards were estimated to range from 0.19 to 0.48 cm/cm3 and from 1.8 to 3.5 km/m2, respectively. These results should reduce the uncertainty associated with the magnitude of RLD values under drip irrigation as intensively managed olive orchards continue to expand in established and new growing regions.


HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1064e-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F. Gilman ◽  
Michael E. Kane

Shoot and root growth were measured on Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis L.) Var. `Torulosa', `Sylvestris', `Pfitzeriana' and `Hetzii' 1, 2 and 3 years after planting into a simulated landscape from 10-liter black plastic containers. Mean diameter of the root system increased quadratically averaging 1, 2 m/year; whereas, mean branch spread increased at 0, 33 m/year, Three years after planting, root spread was 2, 75 times branch spread and roots covered an area 5.5 times that covered by the branches. Percentage of total root length located within the dripline of the plants remained fairly constant (71-77%) during the first 3 years following planting. Root length density per unit area increased over time but decreased with distance from the trunk. In the first 2 years after planting shoot weight increased faster than root `weight. However, during the third year after planting, the root system increased in mass and size at a faster rate than the shoots. Root length was correlated with root weight within root-diameter classes, Root spread and root area were correlated with trunk area, branch spread and crown area.


1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F. Gilman ◽  
Michael E. Kane

Shoot and root growth were measured on Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis L. `Torulosa', `Sylvestris', `Pfitzeriana', and `Hetzii') 1, 2, and 3 years after planting from 1l-liter black plastic containers. Mean diameter of the root system expanded quadratically, whereas mean branch spread increased linearly. Three years after planting, root spread was 2.75 times branch spread, and roots covered an area 5.5 times that covered by the branches. Percentage of total root length located within the dripline of the plants remained fairly constant for each cultivar during the 3 years following planting. Root length density increased over time but decreased with distance from the trunk. During the first 2 years after planting, shoot mass increased faster than root mass. In the 3rd year, the root system increased in mass at a faster rate than the shoots. Root length was correlated with root weight. Root spread and root area were correlated with trunk cross-sectional area, branch spread, and crown area.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rossi Vicente ◽  
Everardo Chartuni Mantovani ◽  
André Luís Teixeira Fernandes ◽  
Júlio César Lima Neves ◽  
Edmilson Marques Figueredo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The development of coffee plant root system changes when subjected to drip irrigation and fertigation. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of fertigation on the development of coffee root system by drip irrigation in western Bahia. The experiment was carried out with Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 coffee plants, of about 3.5 years of age, in the “Café do Rio Branco” farm, located in Barreiras - BA, and consisted of a complete randomized blocks design with 3 replicates. Treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilization (900/800, 600/500 and 300/250 kg ha-1 year-1 N and K2O), weekly distributed, by means of fertigation, throughout the process. After the fourth harvest, coffee root system was evaluated, and root length density (RLD) and root density (RD) were determined at different sampled layers. The highest root concentration, root length density (RLD), and root density (RD) were observed in the superficial layers of soil (0-20 cm), and under the dripline (30 and 70 cm from the orthotropic branch). Results showed that the lower the N and K2O levels, the higher was the development (RLD and RD) of the coffee root system.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 956-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Donizeti Alves ◽  
Carlos Maurício Paglis ◽  
Darlan Einstein do Livramento ◽  
Suellen Sarah Drumond Linhares ◽  
Frederico Biagi Becker ◽  
...  

This paper investigated changes in growth and carbohydrate content of shoots and root systems in response to source-sink manipulation in field-grown coffee trees. The source-sink manipulations were carried out using manual de-fruiting. Two plots of trees were established: in one group, the fruit was left on the tree, while in the second group all fruits were removed manually. Similar results were obtained for coffee trees with and without fruit in terms of height, stem and skirt diameter and branch lengths. A biochemical evaluation of the roots showed that no differences were found between the levels of carbohydrates. In the leaves, levels of soluble sugars and reducing sugars were higher in plants with fruit. The starch concentration in leaves and roots did not vary between the plots. Root length density did not vary between plants with and without fruit in the 0 - 0.4 m soil layer. However, plants without fruit had a higher root length density than plants with a full fruit load. These results contrast with results published by others on source-sink relationships of coffee plants. The joint data analysis shows that young trees, with a moderate fruit load, and with good nutritional and health status, produce carbohydrates in sufficient quantities to maintain vegetative and reproductive growth, without harming root system growth.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 01019
Author(s):  
Andrzej Żabiński ◽  
Urszula Sadowska

The objective of the study was determination of the variability of morphometry and comparison of the morphological structure of the root system in winter cultivars of spelt. Four spelt cultivars were used in the study: Frankencorn, Oberkulmer Rotkorn, Schwabenkorn and Ostro. The material for the study originated from a field experiment. The roots were collected using the soil core method to the depth of 30 cm, from the rows and inter-rows, then the roots were separated using a semi-automatic hydropneumatic scrubber. The cleaned roots were manually separated and scanned, obtaining their digital images. Image analysis was performed using the Aphelion computer software. In order to characterize the root system of the spelt cultivars included in the study, values of the following indexes were determined: root dry mass (RDM), root length density (RLD), specific root length (SRL), mean root diameter (MD). Based on the obtained results it was determined that the RDM, MD and RLD indexes in all spelt cultivars attain the highest values in the row, at the depth 0–5 cm.The highest value of the RDM and MD indexes characterized the root system of the Ostro cultivar at the depth 0–5 cm. The Oberkulmerrotkorn spelt cultivar was distinguished among the tested objects by the highest value of the SRL index.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Faye ◽  
B. Sine ◽  
J.L. Chopart ◽  
A. Grondin ◽  
M. Lucas ◽  
...  

AbstractPearl millet, unlike other cereals, is able to withstand dry and hot conditions and plays an important role for food security in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa and India. However, low soil fertility and drought constrain pearl millet yield. One of the main targets to address these constraints through agricultural practices or breeding is root system architecture. In this study, in order to easily phenotype the root system in field conditions, we developed a model to predict root length density (RLD) of pearl millet plants from root intersection densities (RID) counted on a trench profile in field conditions. We identified root orientation as an important parameter to improve the relationship between RID and RLD. Root orientation was notably found to differ between thick roots (more anisotropic with depth) and fine roots (isotropic at all depths). We used our model to study pearl millet root system response to drought and showed that pearl millet reorients its root growth toward deeper soil layers that retain more water in these conditions. Overall, this model opens ways for the characterization of the impact of environmental factors and management practices on pearl millet root system development.


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